Healthy ways to prevent cancer in teens!

CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control sponsored a supplemental issueExternal Web Site Icon of the Journal of Adolescent Health about ways to prevent cancer, with a focus on youth. The authors are experts from many different professions, showing the importance of working together to protect youth from cancer.

Youth go through many physical and social changes as they grow into adults. These changes create unique opportunities for cancer prevention. By addressing certain exposures and behaviors among today’s youth, we can reduce their chances of getting cancer in the future.

Examples include—

Promoting protective behaviors.

  • Completing the three-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series.
  • Eating healthy food.
  • Getting enough physical activity.

Reducing harmful exposures.

  • Avoiding sunbathing and indoor tanning bed use.
  • Quitting smoking and other tobacco use.
  • Limiting alcohol use.
  • Avoiding exposure to certain chemicals.
  • Limiting radiation dose during medical imaging procedures.

Source: CDC